Frederick Widmann
Born1859
Germany
Died1925
Alma materWashington University in St. Louis
Occupation(s)Architect, philanthropist

Frederick Widmann (1859-1925) was a German-born American architect and philanthropist.

Early life

Frederick Widmann was born in 1859 in Germany.[1] He emigrated to the United States in 1874, settling in St. Louis, Missouri.[2] Widmann was an apprentice carpenter to Walsh and Jungenfeld for three years and he studied at Washington University in St. Louis.[2]

Career

Widmann co-founded Widmann & Walsh, an architectural firm with Robert W. Walsh.[2] Around 1900, alongside architect Caspar D. Boisselier they designed the Orthwein Mansion for William D. Orthwein,[1] which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[3]

Brinckwirth Residence, St. Louis, circa 1904

Meanwhile, Widmann designed "many large industrial plants, public buildings, and some of the largest breweries in the country, including the Anheuser-Busch plants in St. Louis, Omaha, San Antonio, Houston, Chicago, and New York."[2] In 1903, he designed "The Pike" for the St. Louis World's Fair 1904.[4]

Widmann designed his private residence at 3545 Longfellow Boulevard in Compton Heights, a German enclave of St. Louis, Missouri.[1][5] It was designed in the Prairie School architectural style, with a side cupola.[5]

Beyond architecture, Widmann was also an explorer of asphalt and oilfields in Utah from 1883 to 1923.[2]

Philanthropy

Widmann was a member of the Liederkranz Club, a German-American social club in St. Louis.[6] During World War I, he served as the President of the St. Louis War Relief Bazaar.[7][8] The organization raised US$100,000 for German orphans and widows.[7][8] To honor his effort, Widmann was the recipient of the second degree of the Austro-Hungarian Red Cross from Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria in 1916.[7][8]

Death and legacy

Widmann died in 1925.[1] In his will, Widmann endowed the Frederick Widmann Prize in Architecture at the Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts of his alma mater, Washington University in St. Louis.[2][9] The prize gives US$1,500 to an architecture student annually.[9] Furthermore, Widmann Canyon in Utah was named in his honor.[2]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Hunter, Julius K.; Pettus, Robert C.; Lujan, Leonard (1988). Westmoreland and Portland Places: The History and Architecture of America's Premier Private Streets, 1888-1988. Columbia, Missouri: University of Missouri Press. p. 188. ISBN 0826206778. OCLC 635785541.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "ARCHITECTURE AWARDS 2013". Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts. Washington University in St. Louis. Retrieved October 6, 2015.
  3. ↑ "Portland and Westmoreland Places". National Park Service. Retrieved October 6, 2015.
  4. ↑ "Ready to Build Tyrolean Alps.: German Architects Open Offices in City and Inspect Sites for Concession". The St. Louis Republic. St. Louis, Missouri. April 23, 1903. p. 5. Retrieved October 6, 2015 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  5. 1 2 Montesi, Albert; Deposki, Richard (2004). St. Louis Garden District. Mount Pleasant, South Carolina: Arcadia Publishing. p. 60. ISBN 0738532592. OCLC 57340572.
  6. ↑ Toft, Carolyn Hewes; Porter, Jane Molloy; Pettus, Robert C. (1984). Compton Heights: A History and Architectural Guide. St. Louis, Missouri: Landmarks Association of St. Louis. p. 34. OCLC 12823722.
  7. 1 2 3 "Joseph Decorates St. Louis Men". The Salina Evening Journal. Salina, Kansas. July 4, 1916. p. 1. Retrieved October 6, 2015 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  8. 1 2 3 "Received Austrian Medals. Three St. Louis Men Raised Relief Funds for War Widows". The Ottawa Herald. Ottawa, Kansas. July 10, 1916. p. 8. Retrieved October 6, 2015 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  9. 1 2 "Academic Honors & Awards". Washington University in St. Louis. Archived from the original on October 7, 2015. Retrieved October 6, 2015.
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